WARNING: Contains spoilers

Marvel is notorious for its fantastic movies and comics, but what about their shows? On March 18, Marvel released season 2 of their popular show Daredevil.

Episode one, simply titled Bang, starts out with Daredevil stopping some criminals from stealing briefcases while the cops are chasing them. This was a quick start to a fast-paced season.

Later, we’re introduced to the character called the Punisher, the popular anti-hero from the comics. We find out later that the Punisher’s real name is Frank Castle (Jon Bernthal), and that the only reason he’s terrorizing Hell’s Kitchen is to get revenge on the gangs that led to the death of his family.

About halfway through the season, Frank is arrested and put on trial. Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), aka Daredevil, and his partner Foggy Nelson (Elden Hanson) end up taking the case to defend Frank, putting their firm at risk of being closed down. While they might have won the case, Frank started shouting about how he would kill everyone he killed again if given another chance. This puts him in the same prison as Wilson Fisk, the villain from season 1.

We see Wilson approach Frank and offer to help him out, and, because he still controls all of the prison cops, he is able to set Frank free despite the fact that Frank killed over ten other inmates. Frank is back out on the streets, while Matt tries to get the Japanese gang called the Hand out of Hell’s Kitchen.

The Hand, run by Nabu from season 1, are after what they call the Black Sky, who is later revealed to be Matt’s college lover Elektra. Matt seems to be falling for her once again.

During the final showdown between Matt, Elektra and the Hand, the Punisher, aka Frank, arrives on a building adjacent to theirs and begins to shoot at the other members of the Hand from afar, donning his famous outfit from the comics.

However, while Matt is fighting Nabu, Elektra tries to help him and ends up being killed.

It seems now that Matt has lost everything. After losing the firm and Foggy with it, he seemed to only have Karen, Matt’s coworker, who soon left when she saw Matt with Elektra. With the main trio split up, the future seems bleak for Matt.

The season ends with Matt going back to the office one last time to meet with Karen. During this, he reveals to her that he is Daredevil. While this is going on, we see the remaining members of the Hand putting Elektra in their own coffin, dressed in all red.

This season of Daredevil was intense. There was rarely time for anything happy and, overall, it felt very bleak. However, the writing was superb and the acting was just as good.

There could have been more happy moments, but, at the same time, it makes sense why there weren’t many. The show, unlike ABC’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter, is meant to have a darker storyline. It deals with the darker side of the Marvel Universe, which makes it seem more real than fiction.

Season 2 lived up to the high expectations set by season 1. Season 1 was awesome, gritty and always kept viewers on the edges of their seats. This new season did the same, showing off just how intense Marvel can make their shows.

The writers and directors of Daredevil should applaud themselves for making a show that sucks someone in and makes them feel attached to the characters. I’m definitely looking forward to season 3, which should prove to be just as exciting as this season was.